Virkus: Day in the Life of Women's TennisEntry: Erin FaulknerBy: Emmy VirkusAs we near the end of the 2016 tennis season, our team has reflected on the many standards, goals and ambitions we’ve set as a team. We want to constantly hold ourselves accountable, compete with the highest-level of intensity and fight until we can no longer. For junior Erin Faulkner, this has not been an easy journey as she has had to overcome several obstacles along the way. “I can't describe how it feels to be back competing again after undergoing two surgeries,” said Faulkner. “I always knew that I would eventually recover, but I was never sure when that time would be. It was always a lingering question of whether I’d be back in for the season or not, so I'm appreciating this sport now more than I ever have before.” From winning a match despite becoming ill consecutive times on the court to overcoming career threatening injuries, Faulkner is taking in every moment she has left with Michigan State University Women’s Tennis (MSUWT). Nearing her last year as a Spartan, Faulkner has already began to reflect on her collegiate career as a whole. “Playing at No. 1 singles is challenging since you are always matched up against the other team’s best player,” Faulkner said. “So no matter the ranking of the other team, their No. 1 player is always good and that's what makes it so challenging. I always have to expect a good match and consistently be ready to perform. I love the pressure though, so it's all worth the grind.”Our team has seen a lot of proud, well-earned wins this season, as well as a few tight matches that we’ve fallen just short. We are good at acknowledging what we did great and what we can do even greater next time, and coming together as one always makes our bond even tighter than the match before.“I think my individual season is going well,” said Faulkner. “It's one thing to no longer be rusty hitting, but it's another to be match ready. My favorite part about MSUWT is how much of a family we are, and I think that is what separates us from a lot of other schools. Everyone genuinely wants the best for one another, so together we can do anything we set our minds to.”